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Angliholic Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

(by) hanging from just one toe

Geckos can even support their whole weight (by) hanging from just one toe.

Hi,
There is no "by" in the original in the above, but I think it's omitted. Am I off the mark? Thanks.
  

Top answer

I think you're right on. " The "by" in this case is meant to indicate the means by which the action of the verb "to support" is accomplished, or carried out. " I suppose it's kind of a slippery slope.

— Avangi

  • I think you're right on.
  • " The "by" in this case is meant to indicate the means by which the action of the verb "to support" is accomplished, or carried out.
  • " I suppose it's kind of a slippery slope.
  • You could argue that your sentence has two different action verbs ("to support" and "to hang") and each one is accomplished BY a different means: they support by means of hanging , and they hang by means of one toe .
  • - A.
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1 Answers
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I think you're right on. That doesn't mean the same as "hanging by one toe." The "by" in this case is meant to indicate the means by which the action of the verb "to support" is accomplished, or carried out. "I could solve that problem quicker by algebra than by calculus."

Of course you may also say, "geckos can hang by/from one toe."

I suppose it's kind of a s
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